Telugu film industry wants benefits from both states after division

The state bifurcation decision has not come as good news to the Telugu film industry but reconciling itself to the situation, it has taken some decisions for the overall development of the industry both in Telangana and the residuary Andhra Pradesh state.

| TNN | Mar 3, 2014, 15:52 IST

HYDERABAD: The state bifurcation decision has not come as good news to the Telugu film industry but reconciling itself to the situation, it has taken some decisions for the overall development of the industry both in Telangana and the residuary Andhra Pradesh state.

The AP Film Chamber of Commerce has decided to set up two committees – one for Telangana and one for AP state – after the bifurcation takes place. The job of the committees would be to properly guide the governments of both the states to implement measures that will help develop the film industry. The committees will primarily aim to ensure that both the governments provide the same subsidies, levy low entertainment tax, charge minimum amounts for shooting locations, among others. The executive committee meeting of the APFCC took place on February 25.

"At the moment, it is unclear to us which of the two states can be called new. While infrastructure is available in Telangana, it has to be developed in Andhra. Much also depends on what attitude the Telangana government adopts to the film industry that has settled in Hyderabad and the film big houses which make movies. Any move to antagonise them will result in the big production houses moving base. This should not happen," said JV Mohan Goud, honorary joint secretary of the AP Film Chamber of Commerce.

The big production houses, are basically, the studio owners. The big studios in the city include Annapurna studios, Rama Naidu studios, Ramoji Film city and Padmalaya studios. Most big budget producers are also from the Andhra region and if the taxes load is too much in Telangana, there is every possibility that they will shift their operations to the new state. The AP Film Chamber of Commerce discussed the issue threadbare and members of the executive committee, who belonged to both the regions, were of the opinion that it has to be ensured that the industry does not suffer in the Telangana region, when it becomes a state.

According to sources, though both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have cleared the bill for the bifurcation of the state, the film chamber will take the step of constituting the committees only after the presidential assent is obtained for the state bifurcation. The two committees, both for Telangana and residuary Andhra Pradesh, will chalk out a plan of action, listing out the measures that have to be taken for the growth of the industry.

One important reason why the industry wants equal subsidies and benefits in both the states is that the film industry should be comfortably placed in both the regions. It is possible that the residuary Andhra Pradesh, when it becomes a state, will offer sops to the film industry especially because 316 acres of land, has already been allotted for the film industry near Vizag. While filmmakers may want to utilise the opportunity to develop the industry there, the committee for Telangana, will also try to put forward a proposal to the government to offer land for filmmakers from this region especially. The film chamber hopes despite the bifurcation of the state, the film industry will not suffer if proper measures are taken by the governments of both the states.

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